Gauge



July 12, 1938. c H, ANTR|M 2,123,395.

' GAUGE I Filed June 20, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 z wmss/ Q m INVENTOR. w IBY A TTORNEYS.

July 12, 193-8. c. H. ANTRIM 2,123,395

GAUGE Filed June 20, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Charles 1i. Azfliizn M) Km5 s INVENTOR.

" I m pgwfw' A TTORN E YS.

Patented July 12, 1938 UNITED starts PATENT OFFIQE I GAUGE use" 2;; tithe scale plate; i H

Figure 3' is a front or face view of the gauge showing a portion of theindicia-blind removed;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the scale plate taken on radial line 4-4of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view thereof taken on radial line 55 of Figure1;

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the same taken 35 on radial line 66 ofFigure 3;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the gauge taken on line 1-1 of Figure 8;

Figure 8 is a sectional view thereof taken on line 8-8 of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a sectional View of parts of the same taken on line 9-4] ofFigure 7;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of certain parts of the'sametaken on line |Ell of Figure 9;

Figure 11 is an elevational view (reduced) of the gauge as applied to anoil burner installation.

In the particular embodiment of the invention which is illustrated bythese'drawings, the gauge comprises an axially horizontal cylindricalcasing l including the hollow body 2 and its annular cap 3 provided witha transparent window pane 4 which forms the scale plate displaying thescale which extends in an arc 6 of a circle and includes the graduation,the numerical indicia I, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, I, 8 painted or otherwiseapplied Grand Rapids Mich.

1935, seen N6. 27,527

to the inner side of said pane or scale plate, the numerals} and 5 beingalso indicated at 5 5 and 5 in Figures 4, '5 and, 6 respectively. The

inner side of, this plate, except for the arc t displaying said indicia,is obscured or coated at 1 as by the decalcomania process for moredistihctly displaying said indicia. A removable blind or covering 8'conceals the indicia at one end of the scale, asthe numerals 5, 5, l, 8,this blind being, as shown, anopaque coating applied, as by likedecalcomania process, on the outer side of the scale plate 4.

An indicator or pointer 9 iscarried on a rotatable shaft lD, which withthe pointer is rotated to indicate on the scale degrees of force orpressure to be gauged or measured.

In theillustrative practical application of the gauge shown by thedrawings, the shaft and pointer are rotated by the flexible hollowdiaphragm member It to indicate the amount of fuel oil 20 in the tank 2!of an oil burner installation illustrated in Figure 11, the numericalgraduation on the scale being arranged to indicate depth in feet of theoil in the tank or hundreds of gallons of oil therein. Said member Hleads from the rigid pipe 2'! (on which the gauge is mounted as byscrews 26) and has its free end connected by a link l2-with the arm 53of a toothed sector M meshing with the shafts pinion l6 and pivoted at45 on the arm I8 of a bar 36 comprising parallel plates N. This bar isturnably mounted at I9 on a support 25. This diaphragm member is flexedto move the pointer by the suction or pressure withdrawal of oil fromthe tank.

In practice, the tank, which in Figure l1 is adapted to hold 400 gallonsor a depth of four feet of oil, is first filled and the pointer isrotated, as hereinafter explained, to the numeral 4 of the scale. Thepump indicated at 22 being started to draw oil from the tank through thepipe 23 and propel it through the pipe 2H leading to the oil burner (notshown), the pointer is caused to move toward the initial end of thescale by the diminishing pressure which is communicated to the diaphragmmember through the pipe 21 connected with pipe 23 between the tank andthe pump. When enough oil is withdrawn from the tank to leave say onefoot in depth or 100 gallons therein, the pointer will indicate thenumeral I as shown in Figure 1.

The pointer is rotated manually, to initially adjust its positionrelatively to the size of the tank of the particular installation, by, ascrew driver passed through the opening 39 in the back of the casing andinto the kerf 3| of the short spindle 32 frictionally held turnably in ahearing 33 in the support 25, and thus turning said spindle which has aneccentric pin 34 engaging in a slot bearing 35 in the arm l8 of the bar36. This action turns said bar on its pivotal mounting I9, the sector [4on its pivot 15 and the pointers shaft, the diaphragm member Ifremaining unmoved.

The tanks for oil burner installations for domestic use usually containfrom 400 to 800 gallons.

To employ for a large tank the same diaphragm member II, which isintended and adapted for use in connection with a much smaller tank, mayresult in such members being flexed in actual use to degrees which mayimpair its proper operation. Such danger is at least partially obviatedby turning the bar 36 to adjusted positions as above explained; and Ihave provided means for adapting the device to extreme differences incapacity of the tanks. I provide the toothed sector I4 of such angularextent, as shown, that its turning movement on the pivot l5 may rotatethe pointer more than 360 degrees. My gauge may therefore be applied tosuch installations having tanks of say 400 to 800 gallons capacity; andI provide a second pointer 9 disposed at the same angular distance onits shaft from the pointer 9 as equals the angular extent of the scale.Thus, in the construction illustrated, the scale extends through degreesand I dispose the pointers. 9, 9 at that same angular distance apart.Inasmuch as the pointers shaft may be turned either way in making saidadjustment, the double pointer is advantageous and convenient for eithermay be in use while the other is concealed by the coating 1.

The blind or covering 8 with which the gauge is initially furnishedcovers the indicia numerals 5, 6, I, 8 as shown in Figure 1 and is thusadapted for use in connection with a tank of 400 gallons capacity. Ifhowever, the purchasers tank holds 800 gallons, he may remove or scrapeoff the entire blind, or if his tank holds 650 gallons he may remove allbut that portion of the blind which covers the numerals 1, 8 asindicated in Figure 3.

The concealing or covering of indicia not to be used in any giveninstallation prevents confusion and a misreading of the gauge.

A disc 40 may be mounted behind the pointer as shown in Figure 8 andcolored or made refiective to more distinctly display the indicianumerals. A light spiral spring wound on the shaft [0 is shown at 4|.

Where the plate 4 is coated on its inner side as shown at 1 and theindicia or numerals are painted on said inner side, while the blind B isformed by coating this plate on its outer side, it is evident that theblind may be removed or scraped off without marring the indicia or thecoating 1.

The gauge being operated by changes of pressure in the tank, it will beseen that it is adapted to varying lifts of the oil depending on thedepth of the tank below the gauge, so that the gauge may be employed ininstallations in which the vertical distance between it and the tankvaries greatly.

The invention being intended to be pointed out in the claim, is not tobe limited to or by details of construction or arrangement of anyparticular embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings orhereinbefore described.

I claim:

In a gauge: an arcuate scale extending one hundred and eighty degrees;an indicator comprising a rotatable shaft having a pinion and carrying apair of diametrically opposite pointers; a curved hollow diaphragmmember operated by fluid pressure therein to rotate the shaft; andadjustable means for operatively connecting said member with the shaftcomprising an arm turnable relatively to the shaft to adjusted positionsand a toothed sector pivoted on the arm, meshing with the pinion andconnected with said member, the sector and the pinion having a gearratio sufficient to rotate the shaft a complete revolution to every onecomplete turning movement of the sector in either direction to bringonly one or the other of the pointers into operative registration withthe scale.

CHARLES H. ANTRIM.

